An intense cold wave is advancing across Brazil, affecting 14 states with significant temperature drops and risks of frost [1].
This weather event marks the first major cold front of the season, potentially disrupting agriculture and public health in the Centro-Sul region. The arrival of the polar air mass follows the official start of winter on Sunday, June 21, 2026 [6].
Meteorologists from CPTEC/INPE and INMET are monitoring the system, which is driven by a polar air mass and an associated extratropical cyclone [1, 2]. The cyclone has already triggered storms and created the atmospheric path for the cold air to penetrate deeper into the country [2].
Forecasts for the temperature drop vary by region and source. Some reports indicate that minimum temperatures could fall below 0°C in several states [1]. Other projections suggest a more moderate decline, with INMET predicting a drop between 3°C and 5°C [4] and minimums remaining near 10°C [5].
In Minas Gerais, the impact is particularly noted in Uberaba, where temperatures are expected to range between 9°C and 14°C [3]. This system is described as potentially the most intense polar mass of 2026 for that specific area [3].
However, the cooling effect is not uniform across the state. In northern Minas Gerais, temperatures are expected to remain higher than average, with a range between 11°C and 32°C [7].
The strongest temperature drops were expected to occur on Wednesday and Thursday, June 19 and 20 [3, 5].
“The arrival of the polar air mass follows the official start of winter on Sunday, June 21, 2026.”
The discrepancy in temperature forecasts, ranging from below freezing to 14°C, highlights the volatility of the current extratropical cyclone's path. While the Centro-Sul region faces genuine frost risks that can damage crops, the higher-than-average temperatures in northern Minas Gerais suggest a fragmented cold front that may not uniformly impact the country's interior.
